Manure Removal Robot Market

Market Overview

The global manure removal robot market are expected to grow from USD 80 million in the year 2019 to USD 129.6 million in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% in the forecast period.

Globally, animal husbandry has been experiencing an expansion, owing to colossal demand for manure removal robots. This has led to the adoption of several health initiatives for improving quality in breeding and dairy development. The National Program for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development by the Indian Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries support activities focus on implementing quality milk production, procurement, and processing facilities.

A well-established livestock farming sector such as that of the U.S. depends on several micro and macro factors, one of which is animal welfare, i.e., the conditions of animal maintenance, such as the internal and external hygiene of sheds to curb diseases, are of vital importance which can be maintained by use of bots. Manure removal robots help collect manure without human contact; thus, they present an ideal solution for livestock breeders with large farms. With more autonomous systems, there are more prospects to apply more sophisticated sensor technology to perform farm tasks.

The use of manure removal robots involves monitoring farmed animals, such as dairy cattle, pigs, and chickens, where interference can help minimize waste and environmental pollution and enhance animal health and efficiency on the farm.

Regional Analysis

North America

North America is the largest fed-cattle industry worldwide, with vast cattle farms and the presence of a multitude of associated services. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the country has an estimated 94.4 million cattle from 2015–2018.

According to Canada's Government, in January 2018, farmers had approximately 11.6 million cattle, portraying 0.9% growth over January 2017. Moreover, stringent regulations and increasing government support regarding manure management direct breeders to adopt manure management technologies, bolstering the region's manure removal robot market.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit significant growth in the forecasted year. Livestock plays a vital role in poverty alleviation and economic development across developing countries such as China, India, Australia, and South Korea. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the overall count of cattle in China for 2018 was about 98.1 million. The dairy cows constituted approximately 14 million, whereas beef cows constituted 53.5 million. Besides, China is the largest swine producer with key cattle breeding companies such as Wen, Mu Yuan, Chu Ying, Zheng Bang, and Tian Bing. The livestock breeding scenario in the country focuses on cleanliness and maintenance requirements, offering an array of opportunities for the country's manure removal robot market.

Europe

Europe is one of the most active livestock farming areas, and pigs, sheep, and cattle are the three main types of livestock reared in the area. For its management, the site's large livestock population needs considerable human resources, which translates to colossal labor costs; breeders thus transition to automation solutions such as manure removal robots to increase productivity and reduce costs.

The European Union (EU) General Farm Animals Directive and EU-specific directives on pigs, hens, and chickens have been incorporated in countries such as Poland, the U.K., and Italy. These directives focus on handling and managing livestock in a hygienic manner, which also includes shed maintenance. In addition to this, British farmers operate to some of the highest and most stringent animal-welfare standards globally, intending to ensure hygiene in light of the growing consumer awareness regarding animal health. Such directives and initiatives at the government and public level are expected to drive manure removal robots across the region.

Segmental Analysis

By Type

Based on type, the global manure removal robot market is divided into fixed and mobile. The fixed type segment caters to the maximum share as the agricultural scenario demands fine monitoring of crops and animals for achieving a higher yield. Primarily manure scarping systems are also considered as fixed robots for cleaning purposes. However, the fluctuations in farmworker wages have led to a labor shortage, reducing the overall crop yield.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of full-time workers in animal husbandry dropped 146,000 between 2002 and 2014. However, mobile robots' adoption, with advanced vision and machine learning, provides an ideal solution to such concerns and others.

By Application

The global manure removal robot market is divided into pig farms, cattle farms, sheep farms, and others based on the application. Among these, cattle farms are expected to achieve the highest growth rate during the forecast period, with a CAGR of 6.4%. The adoption of manure removal robots relies mainly on the animal husbandry industry, of which milk represents a substantial share. In the milking process, cleanliness is vital as the open puller heads of milking systems integrated with barns are susceptible to contamination.

Manure removal robots, integrated with several sensors, are computer-controlled; they move slowly over the floor to clean it with or without water, providing an effective solution for cleaning concerns. Additionally, manure removal robots scrape out manure and maintain the required cleanliness levels in barns, thereby preventing contamination.

Impact of covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading at a rapid rate across the world. The lockdown imposed across nations worldwide to prevent the spread of the virus has had a massive effect across these industries, including the demand for manure removal robots. Nevertheless, the market supply chain is stepping up to keep workers and customers safe while supplying critical equipment, utilities, and food and commodities.

 Furthermore, the instability of the supply chain market mainly due to the closing of national and foreign borders and the adherence to the decision not to use china products hampered the market's growth. However, the considerable spike seen in the sale of manure removal robots to limit public and crowded places may positively affect the market's growth in the upcoming years.

Recent Developments

• In March 2019, Rabo (Rabobank Group) joined as a new investor to help JOZ B.V. tap new markets with innovative products. The deal aims at strategically growing the business and the geographical presence.
• In January 2018, Pellon Group developed a product called manure master, which is a suitable replacement for hydraulic scrappers. Also, it has some added features, such as it doesn't require a urine drainpipe and can be upgraded up-to-the RFit version. The product aims at providing an enhanced technology, thereby strengthening the product portfolio.